WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS
- What’s the lie your character says most often?
- How loosely or strictly do they use the word ‘friend’?
- How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?
- What’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?
- Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?
- What’s their favorite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?
- What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?
- How loose is their use of the phrase ‘I love you’?
- Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?
- What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?
- If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?
- What’s something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!
- When do they fake a smile? How often?
- How do they put out a candle?
- What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?
- What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?
- What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?
- Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?
- What would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?
- Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but don’t like the person?
- What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?
- What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?
- What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesn’t / don’t even remember?
- Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?
- What subject / topic do they know a lot about that’s completely useless to the direct plot?
- How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?
- What’s the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?
- What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?
- How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?
- When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?
- When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?
- If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?
- How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?
- How do they greet someone they like / love?
- What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?
- Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?
- What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?
- What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?
- Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?
- How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?
- What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?
- If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?
- What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?
- What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?
- What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?
- Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?
- Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?
- Who would they say ‘yes’ to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didn’t want to do?
- Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?
- What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally don’t agree with?
- What’s a phrase they say a lot?
- Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?
- Who would / do they believe without question?
- What’s their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?
- What’s something they’re expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?
- If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?
- What’s a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?
- How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?
Oh hell yeah